Community Reviews

He didn't much like to shower or wear shoes. He believed his diet kept him from getting stinky, not true apparently. In fact he was quite odd and obsessive about his diets, he would go on kicks where he would eat nothing but carrots for long periods of time until he turned orange. This makes me wonder if these strange eating habits brought on his cancer. Who can say?

Steve Jobs was an asshat.

He was an ass to everyone, even Steve Wozniak, who by everyone's standSteve Jobs was a damn dirty hippie.

He didn't much like to shower or wear shoes. He believed his diet kept him from getting stinky, not true apparently. In fact he was quite odd and obsessive about his diets, he would go on kicks where he would eat nothing but carrots for long periods of time until he turned orange. This makes me wonder if these strange eating habits brought on his cancer. Who can say?

Steve Jobs was an asshat.

He was an ass to everyone, even Steve Wozniak, who by everyone's standards is one of the nicest guys there is. Wozniak was Job's only friend at times, and looked up to him always, but Jobs screwed him over time and again. Jobs didn't even claim his first born daughter (until much later) as his own even though there was no doubt she belonged to him. He also was a very emotional man, lots of crying and snot when he wanted something. Impossible to please, even down to the color of things. I seriously don't know how anything got finished, I really don't.

Steve Jobs was a super genius.

Despite of (or because of) all this he created the most amazing things. Because he demanded the impossible, he would get it. I love my Ipod and my Ipad. I'm very attached, I don't want to live without them. I use the Ipod for my audiobook and podcast addiction. I'm even learning how to draw caricatures on the Ipad.....so frik'n cool.

Thank you Steve for being a damn dirty hippie, asshat super genius. Your creations have enhanced, and changed our lives.

Steve Jobs was a fascinating person whose powerful personality and extraordinary life make for a very compelling read. He revolutionized many different technological and entertainment industries by successfully blending technology and the liberal arts, giving consumers products they didn't even know they wanted. He was able to defy reality byThere are three things necessary for a great biography:

1. A compelling subject2. An engaging narrative3. Accuracy

Walter Isaacson's Steve Jobs has all three.

Steve Jobs was a fascinating person whose powerful personality and extraordinary life make for a very compelling read. He revolutionized many different technological and entertainment industries by successfully blending technology and the liberal arts, giving consumers products they didn't even know they wanted. He was able to defy reality by simply refusing to accept it (a phenomenon referred to as his "reality distortion field"), enabling him to do the impossible. On a personal level, Jobs was a very sensitive and emotional man, yet he was unable to empathize with the feelings of others, which, along with his "reality distortion field," led to him act in unsavory ways towards people in both his personal and professional life. After reading this book it was easy to understand why Jobs is such a polarizing figure. But whether you love or hate him, it's impossible to deny that he had a major impact on the world, or that he was an interesting person.

Isaacson's narrative style is engaging. Rather than listing a bunch of facts and quotes, which would make for a very dull read, he uses them to construct a story about Jobs' life. The book is also structured in a logical fashion. Although largely chronological, the chapters do center around certain themes. Isaacson also avoids getting bogged down by technological details, which can be a temptation in a book that features a computer company. Even when the technological aspects of a product are necessary to illustrate a point, they are explained simply so that even a reader who is not tech savvy can understand.

In terms of accuracy, I can only judge based on what I know from other sources as well as my impression after reading the biography. I do not have the resources or connections to go through every assertion made and verify them. I can, however, assess whether or not Isaacson appeared to be presenting an overly positive or negative picture. I believe that Isaacson presents a realistic picture of Jobs that includes both the positive and negative sides to his personality. Jobs comes across as a real person with a lot of flaws and perhaps a mental illness, but who has also accomplished some amazing things. I did not get the feeling that Isaacson was trying to whitewash or defame him.

This is not to say that Isaacson is unbiased, but I have yet to find a biographer who isn't. A biographer must be passionate about his or her subject in order to devote the time needed to write a thorough biography, and with passion comes bias, whether positive or negative. Isaacson was positively biased towards Jobs, however, this did not prevent him from exposing the darker side of Jobs' personality. He also contradicts Jobs' own statements with both facts and other people's accounts. I appreciated that he included both sides of a story. However, he does tend to justify Jobs' obnoxious behavior and negative personality traits by reminding the reader that these behaviors and traits also led him to do great things, and achieve the impossible. It often seems as though Isaacson is implying that the ends justify the means, although the reader is able to form his or her own opinion. If you can ignore Isaacson's apologetic tone, which is present throughout, the biography does present a balanced picture of Jobs.

Overall, I really enjoyed this biography. I would recommend this book to anyone who is a fan of Steve Jobs, Apple, or is interested in particularly influential people. Although Pixar plays a much smaller role, there are also some interesting stories about how Pixar came to be what it is today. I would not recommend this biography to Apple haters or Steve Jobs haters due to Isaacson's apologetic presentation of Jobs' negative traits, nor would I recommend it to fans who would rather remember an idealized version of Jobs. Also, I'd caution readers to remember that this is a biography about Steve Jobs, not about the history of Apple. While Apple is featured in this biography quite a bit since it was a huge part of Jobs' life, more so than his other companies or even his family, there are pieces of Apple's story that are missing or glossed over, presumably because in the grand scheme of Jobs' life, they were not that important. If you are looking for a complete profile of Apple, this is not it, although it will give you some interesting insights into the company, and provide a detailed, though incomplete, history.

Disclaimer: I think it's important to note my personal history with Apple. I have been drinking the Apple koolaid for about twenty years, which is most of my life. In high school, I used to get into debates with people over whether Macs or PCs were better, often being the only Mac defender in a group arguing for PCs. Like any Apple fanatic, I've regarded Steve Jobs with a sort of reverence usually reserved for rock stars and actors. I was, therefore, deeply interested in reading about his life. Take what you will from my review given my feelings towards Apple, and the man who made the company what it is today....more

Edited (at the end) to reflect just how cool I am now! I know a lot of people would disagree with that, but not all. (view spoiler)[I'm writing this down so everyone will know I'm just not some bookseller with AS living on the fringes of society, but I have my moments too. Well, moment then. (hide spoiler)]

This is a fantastically well-written and exhaustive biography of a brilliant, if flawed, man, with no holds barred. Jobs great achievement was to marry an uncompromisingly zen creativity to elEdited (at the end) to reflect just how cool I am now! I know a lot of people would disagree with that, but not all. (view spoiler)[I'm writing this down so everyone will know I'm just not some bookseller with AS living on the fringes of society, but I have my moments too. Well, moment then. (hide spoiler)]

This is a fantastically well-written and exhaustive biography of a brilliant, if flawed, man, with no holds barred. Jobs great achievement was to marry an uncompromisingly zen creativity to electronically-advanced products when all around built boxes. The art of form following function taken to its extreme, where even the innards are as beautiful as the case, has an authenticity that appeals to all (even those who won't pay for an Apple product).

They say that when you are dying you regret not what you did but what you didn't do. Jobs scarcely regretted a thing, his ego was so vast he could hardly contemplate that he might actually have been wrong and since a young age, he only ever did what he wanted and could not be swayed or persuaded by anyone else to even do something as small as hold his acerbic tongue.

I was once an electronics designer. I made quite a lot of money and essentially retired at 25. Sir Alan Sugar, the originator of The Apprentice and a friend and business acquaintance asked me to come to work for him as his personal assistant. I didn't, I decided to sail around the world instead. More fool me.

The book made me wish, and not for the first time and not because I am now quite poor (all booksellers are, except the Amazon crew) that I hadn't left electronics, because my head is again full of ideas and that is where they will have to stay. So I have regrets even now.

I took the road less travelled and it turned out to end up in a tropical mangrove swamp where I sit, pleasantly bogged down. Jobs took the highway, the one with a good surface and plenty of signs. He overtook everyone and reached his destination of unqualified success, excellence, money and credibility in a very short time, and the world would be a lot poorer without him. RIP Steve. You were a true artist and visionary.

I haven't got a Mac myself. Because, as the advert said, I'm just not cool enough....

Edit May 2014. I went to dinner on a 93' yacht with a chef, hostess and a couple of crew and the captain gave me an iPad for a present. He said it was only a first gen. one and I was too cool not to have a Mac :-) This is true. (view spoiler)[I don't go to dinner on 93' yachts very often. Big one before that was 100'! But that was years ago. (hide spoiler)] It's not who you know, but where you drink. I drink where the captains drink!

CherylGreat review of a visionary man with tunnel vision and a challenging emotional IQ, in my opinion. His immortality in assured by his accomplishments. TGreat review of a visionary man with tunnel vision and a challenging emotional IQ, in my opinion. His immortality in assured by his accomplishments. Thanks for reminding me of his mark on our lives and for your personal experiences which I enjoyed reading....more
Apr 06, 2014 10:50AM

Wow. I'm halfway through this book and, while it's well-written and interesting, I can't get over what a jerk SJ was. Yes, he was brilliant and all that. But he seemed to view other humans as nothing more than ants in his ant farm, sub-biologicals that he could squish whenever he felt like it. And did.

Some might say that his gifts to tech development, or the fact that he changed and invented whole industries, would compensate. Maybe the two things went together, cruelty and brilliance.

But the lWow. I'm halfway through this book and, while it's well-written and interesting, I can't get over what a jerk SJ was. Yes, he was brilliant and all that. But he seemed to view other humans as nothing more than ants in his ant farm, sub-biologicals that he could squish whenever he felt like it. And did.

Some might say that his gifts to tech development, or the fact that he changed and invented whole industries, would compensate. Maybe the two things went together, cruelty and brilliance.

But the lesson to be drawn here, future CEOs, isn't that his cruelty fed his brilliance! He was aware of the pain he was causing other people, yet like so many other cruel, overbearing, harsh, thoughtless and petulant overlords, he was very thin-skinned. Also, I don't believe that his often-cited sense of abandonment, from having been put up for adoption, justifies his behavior.

He was, as the author put it, "bratty." Jobs would fiddle with design changes to the point of driving his team mad. A thousand different variations of white weren't satisfactory. He wanted a new color to be invented, regardless of the damage done to the rollout of the new object.

As I said, I'm only halfway through the book. Hopefully there'll be some positive info about SJ that will balance out some of the negativity I've spelled out. I'll finish this review when I finish the book.

Nov. 8, 2011: I finished the book. Here are the rest of my thoughts.

Isaacson makes an interesting point when he says Jobs was a genius. He means genius not in terms of a high IQ, but in terms of an ability to see things in surges of intuition, inspiration, and creativity. (BTW here's an interesting rundown of the smartest people on the planet: http://www.businessinsider.com/the-sm...) Because of his genius, I agree that Jobs deserves to be included in the company of Edison, Franklin, et al.

Steve Jobs pushed everybody until they wanted to kill him, but the pushing yielded amazing, brilliant new products. His unique brainpower allowed him to see how things might align, merge, and serve each other, and how utility might be blended with art. That vision led to creations of whole industries.

His obsession with perfection and control led him to flirt with emulating the Big Brother that Apple was created to bring down. One of the fascinating threads of this book was the debate between proponents of closed and open systems. Was it better to manufacture a pristine, inflexible system or the messier free thinking open system? And what were the implications of that belief on Jobs' view of his customers and his worldview?

Yet he defined petulance. His food had to be just so. He would send back a glass of orange juice three times until finally satisfied it was fresh. He was vindictive, cruel and even Machiavellian. He wasn't much of a family man, and he ignored his kids to a painful extent. Isaacson mused that Jobs' meanness wasn't a critical part of his success. He was totally aware of its effect on others, yet he indulged.

In spite of my aversion to the man, I actually felt empowered as I came to the end of the book. Steve Jobs had lived by certain precepts, which in the current economy we could all benefit from:

---Know your value ---Have a skill you can sell. Be really, really good at something.---Things can turn around if you persevere, but don't be afraid to walk away.

Unbending to the end, even the prospect of death didn't soften him up much, but he brought me up short on the last page of the book, because I am obsessed with the same question:

"I like to think that something survives after you die. It's strange to think that you accumulate all this experience, and maybe a little wisdom, and it just goes away. So I really want to believe that something survives, and that maybe your consciousness endures."

I closed the book with a bit more compassion for this difficult man and went outside to my garden to pick cilantro for that night's dinner. Since we'd just had a serious storm, I declined to rinse it. I simply cleaned it, thinking, “Rain-washed cilantro, organic, from the garden. Steve would’ve approved.”...more

so, we are having the event for this book at our store tonight. the number of people calling up to ask if steve jobs will also be present to sign is staggering. in other words, "i care enough about steve jobs to want to read a 600+ page book about him, but i am somehow unaware that he is deceased."

is what i hope. the alternative is ghoulish and i do not want to entertain it.

My background is as a post-1979 punk rocker. So naturally I view all dope-gorging smelly long hair Dylan-worshiping hippies with a certain amount of suspicion and disdain.

The author shows, on a page-by-page basis, what an insufferable asshole Steve Jobs was. I'm not exaggerating. But the book left me wondering: why? how did he become this way?

The book is fairly well researched, but except for a precious few anecdotes about his youth, very little is said about his upbringing. I'd really like to kMy background is as a post-1979 punk rocker. So naturally I view all dope-gorging smelly long hair Dylan-worshiping hippies with a certain amount of suspicion and disdain.

The author shows, on a page-by-page basis, what an insufferable asshole Steve Jobs was. I'm not exaggerating. But the book left me wondering: why? how did he become this way?

The book is fairly well researched, but except for a precious few anecdotes about his youth, very little is said about his upbringing. I'd really like to know more about his family dynamic. What was his parents' parenting style? The book says NOTHING about the adopted sister he grew up with. Anyone who has grown up with siblings can attest to the influence of siblings on their personality. To me the lack of insight into his teen and pre-teen life leaves a glaring hole in understanding the man.

My opinion of Steve Jobs: The ends don't justify the means. I don't care how creative or driven you are; you're not allowed to be an asshole to your fellow human beings....more

BrettHis being an asshole in no way outweighs contributions ... As we all sit here writing these from a PC or Mac with a GUI, use our smartphones everyday,His being an asshole in no way outweighs contributions ... As we all sit here writing these from a PC or Mac with a GUI, use our smartphones everyday, tablets, watch computer animated movies with our kids, listen to digital music on our phones, etc. I'm willing to trade him being an asshole for how much he inspired/pushed others and changed the world....more
Jul 10, 2013 07:34AM

CherylI haven't read the book yet, but from the various reviews and from other things I have read about Steve Jobs it seems that he had some type of mentalI haven't read the book yet, but from the various reviews and from other things I have read about Steve Jobs it seems that he had some type of mental disability. Assuming that is true, he was able to contribute a lot to society and if not true then maybe he was what many people have been describing him....more
Jul 24, 2014 06:34AM

Never expected to find this much enjoyment reading a biography. Isaacson has truly done a wonderful job with this book.

For those who are too busy to read the entire book, please try to grab a quick read of the last two chapters of the book at a book store or airport or someplace - These chapters are a concise summary of the entire book as well as the thesis Isaacson builds up to throughout the book. Besides, it will probably make you buy and read the whole thing anyway.

To call this man a "GreatNever expected to find this much enjoyment reading a biography. Isaacson has truly done a wonderful job with this book.

For those who are too busy to read the entire book, please try to grab a quick read of the last two chapters of the book at a book store or airport or someplace - These chapters are a concise summary of the entire book as well as the thesis Isaacson builds up to throughout the book. Besides, it will probably make you buy and read the whole thing anyway.

To call this man a "Great Marketer" is probably a great disservice to him and Steve would probably have had a fit about that. I used to think of him as an epitome of modern marketing as well, but he would probably classify marketing as 'evil' in his radar. He hated the idea of any company focusing on marketing and emphatically states that is the whole problem with most companies today. This is probably a difficult idea to get to grips with, but is essential too.

I hope every Management Guru and CEO is studying this book and drawing the right lessons. We could truly be in a better world if they do. Just to clarify, I am not a fanboy of all apple products though I am sure the Mac is the best tech device till date but I do I fall on the android side of the fence.

But, Jobs' philosophy on running companies and driving innovation is the best in the modern age and should be copied shamelessly, if not their product features (I am looking at you Samsung)....more

This is an amazing inside view into the life of one of the great businessmen of our era. A must read.

The thing that struck me most about Steve Jobs was that he was an incredible perfectionist. He was a craftsman, and wanted the computers he built to be beautiful and amazing and useful. He believed that computers were "at the intersection of technology and liberal arts" - a phrase he used a lot - because he realized computers weren't just for geeks. They are for everyone, and needed to be able tThis is an amazing inside view into the life of one of the great businessmen of our era. A must read.

The thing that struck me most about Steve Jobs was that he was an incredible perfectionist. He was a craftsman, and wanted the computers he built to be beautiful and amazing and useful. He believed that computers were "at the intersection of technology and liberal arts" - a phrase he used a lot - because he realized computers weren't just for geeks. They are for everyone, and needed to be able to be used by everyone.

Steve put design at the top of product pyramid at Apple - above engineering. This means they spent a lot of time trying to fit the hardware into the beautifully designed cases the designers came up with, and the designers and engineers had to work together closely. This can backfire (eg Antennagate), but largely it worked really well. It produced amazing computers that were visually distinct from everything else in the market, and that "just work". If I learned anything from this book, it's that Apple believed that design is paramount, and spending extra time and engineering resources to make a beautiful design work is worth it.

Apple's design philosophy is to "make it simple. Really simple". You still see this today - go to Apple.com - you will see ONE product. Now try Amazon. According to the book, Jobs learned this from Markkula, who taught him that "A great company must be able to impute its values from the first impression it makes".

Steve's ethos was basically that if you are going to do something, do it right. The book is full of examples of Steve doing this. When the iMac first came out it looked like no other computer. It was interesting to hear how difficult it was for the engineers to accommodate a handle on the computer - but it ended up being a defining feature of the computer. I also loved the story of how Steve was obsessed with quality glass, and ordered the highest end stuff he could find for his Apple Stores.

Steve's management tactics got a lot of scrutiny in the book - and many other reviewers use words like "jerk" to describe him. It sounds like Steve could definitely be a jerk to work for. His management style was to push people as hard as he could, and to let people know when they didn't perform. When pushed like that, a person can have one of two reactions: they either resent it, and end up quitting or getting fired (B-players) - or they accept the challenge to do better, and come back the next week with something even better. Win-win for Steve - he filters out the b-players and gets his a-players to produce the best work they can.

But, as was pointed out in the book, if Steve was nothing but a jerk, he wouldn't have built a company full of loyal employees - Apple has one of the lowest turnover rates in the valley. Jobs only hired people who "had a passion for the product". I also liked how he motivated by looking at the bigger picture; such as the story of how he convinced his engineer that saving 10 seconds off the boot time was worth it because across 5 million users that would save 100 lifetimes per year.

The book was full of references to Steve's dynamic personality; his "reality distortion field" is a great descriptor. Steve believed he could do anything - and he was so persuasive that he could convince those around him that they could whatever it was too. I think this is one of the most defining qualities of an entrepreneur - believing something can be done against all odds. Not being afraid to tear down walls or think outside the box.

I loved the description of Steve that "whatever he was touting was the best thing he ever produced." You see him do this in his keynote speeches too. He is always using words like "best", "amazing", etc to describe whatever he's launching.

A big theme that the author made was that especially early on, Steve viewed Apple as "counter-culture" rebels. They were hippies who thought they could change the world. And they did - but not only that - I think they embedded their can-do attitude deep in Silicon Valley, which is probably highly correlated with why it is the center of the technology revolution today. This quote is classic:

One of Steve's great abilities was to focus. When Jobs came back to Apple from his hiatus the biggest innovation he made was to focus the company onto just the few products that were working or had potential.

Steve's belief that computers need to be beautiful and easy to use basically prevented him from ever licensing his software, as then he wouldn't be able to control the user experience. Microsoft didn't have that problem, and that's why Windows dominated. I think it's also the reason that Windows is in trouble today. They have spent a decade making their code work across hundreds of different hardware configurations. Their code is now full of backwards compatibility support that just makes it messy, and bloated. Worse, their focus is on maintaining all that instead of innovating and improving it.

The platform vs integrated approach is being tested again with the iphone vs android. It will be interesting to see if history replays itself, or if Apple's lead and ability to make a superior product because of their full stack control will prevail.

- Remove everything that is unnecessary.- Be ruthless about building an A team.- Make stuff you believe in.- Collaborate often through vigorous discussion.- Push yourself and others to do the impossible now.- Make great experiences by simplifying.- Own your work and protect it.- Live at intersection of intellect and intuition.

But these are not spoilers. The drama of this biography is in the decisions Jobs' made, the way he followed through on these idExecutive summary of Isaacson's "Steve Jobs":

- Remove everything that is unnecessary.- Be ruthless about building an A team.- Make stuff you believe in.- Collaborate often through vigorous discussion.- Push yourself and others to do the impossible now.- Make great experiences by simplifying.- Own your work and protect it.- Live at intersection of intellect and intuition.

But these are not spoilers. The drama of this biography is in the decisions Jobs' made, the way he followed through on these ideals. Read the book. In the same way that you understand a proverb much more after you've had a life a experience that demonstrates it, these will mean much, much more when you see them in the context of Steve Jobs' life.

Plus, you'll also discover Jobs' equally as compelling character traits: from his idealism to his irascibility....more

I downloaded the e-book on my iPad (quite fitting) Sun. night and stayed up until the very wee hours reading (on a work night, no less). Isaacson's writing style is very engaging and, at least so far, he seems to be embarking on a no holds barred, honest portrayal of this very admired, feared, respected, despised, controversial titan of industry. As a college senior in '85, watching the iconic "1984" commercial, reading all about SJ & Woz and how they wanted to "change the world", I made itI downloaded the e-book on my iPad (quite fitting) Sun. night and stayed up until the very wee hours reading (on a work night, no less). Isaacson's writing style is very engaging and, at least so far, he seems to be embarking on a no holds barred, honest portrayal of this very admired, feared, respected, despised, controversial titan of industry. As a college senior in '85, watching the iconic "1984" commercial, reading all about SJ & Woz and how they wanted to "change the world", I made it my mission to work at this amazing company. Apple hired me right after graduation and I spent the next 5+ years working with some of the most creative, bright, talented people ever. I was able to attend a few of SJ's employee meetings & product intros before he was unceremoniously "ousted" in that summer of '85, and It was amazing the power he had when he spoke in front of an audience. He's still the best, most evangelical, amazing speaker/presenter/showman I've ever seen. A master, bar none! Can't wait to finish the book and learn more about what drove this amazing man to do all that he did. ...more

Isaacson writes a great biography: He tells a coherent, cohesive story, he interviews all the players and most important he doesn't feel the need to hoist his subject on a pedestal with his pen. When it comes to carrying a story, our author did all the right things.

His subject, however, left mOops! The publishers forgot to include a subtitle, so I've taken the liberty of helping them come up with one. May I suggest:

Isaacson writes a great biography: He tells a coherent, cohesive story, he interviews all the players and most important he doesn't feel the need to hoist his subject on a pedestal with his pen. When it comes to carrying a story, our author did all the right things.

His subject, however, left much to be desired. It's startling to see how someone can be so immensely successful in one aspect of his life and such a complete, utter failure in virtually every other. To illuminate just a few of the many failings of Steve Jobs, allow me to expound upon my proposed subtitle:

Unrelenting Narcissist: It's true that if you're going to launch a business in a cutthroat industry and be willing to fight to the death to succeed, you gotta believe in yourself. Jobs, however, took a little positive self-esteem to a whole new level and chose to recreate truth to position himself in the best light. He steals the concept of the GUI from Xerox and it's collaborative sharing, but Microsoft does, well, anything and it's because they're thieves, and we have no respect for thieves. Good ideas? He took credit for them, even if he would veto them upon first review. The man truly believed he could do no wrong, and I can't help but think he probably, just before taking his last breath, was thinking, "Well there goes the future of Apple."

Suspected Sociopath: To be clear, I'm using the term "sociopath" like I would if I were Wong's junior psychologist on SVU: that is, to define someone with an anti-social personality disorder. The man - Jobs, not Wong; Wong is amazing - fit the profile to a T: Despite having the ability to charm someone's head off when he needed to, Jobs had an absolute lack of genuine regard for almost everyone around him - his wife, his employees, his poor, cast-aside daughters (his son seemed to escape his scorn, which is a charmingly sexist detail), even his supporters (I can't bring myself to call them friends) who were there for him from the beginning. If a person could not - or could no longer - provide a benefit to Jobs, he would cast them aside...but not before cruelly shitting mounds of aggression and abuse all over their bare heads. See? Sociopath.

Giant Fucking Asshole: There are seriously almost too many examples of this to count, but let me curate a sample for your consideration. 1). He screwed one of the founding members of Apple out of founders stock that would now be practically priceless. 2). He thinks he can explain away the abuse he doled out to employees by saying that was "just who I am." Seriously? Do you not think that the people around you want to rip your head off every single day? They do, I assure you. But you know what? They hold it in, because collaborative, encouraging environments are better for everyone (unless you're a narcissist and/or a sociopath, in which case, see above). 3). There's something atrocious about a multi-multi-multi-billionaire who can envision how personal computers/GUIs/the mouse/touchscreens/computer animation/digital music/tablets/etc. can change the world for rich consumers, but who can't see that a fraction of his wealth could have changed the world for people who don't have water.

It's undeniable that Jobs was fantastically talented and will go down in the books as one of the great visionaries in history. I'm writing my review on my MacBook, and both my iPhone and my iPad (as well as a slew of iPods, Nanos and Shuffles) are nearby, so I guess the guy was doing something right. Still, I don't believe that being an asshole is the answer, and I don't believe it gets better results; it may not get worse results, but if today's Apple is what he created with vinegar, then I'd love to see what he could have done with honey....more

Tavaris JohnsonHa, I wasn't trying to make you second guess yourself. I just wasn't sure why you rated it 3 stars, because you only talked about Jobs' character. ThaHa, I wasn't trying to make you second guess yourself. I just wasn't sure why you rated it 3 stars, because you only talked about Jobs' character. Thanks for clearing that up, though!...more
Feb 18, 2014 02:42PM

I had to be convinced by a GR friend to read this book, similarly to how Isaacson had to be convinced to write it.

Back in 2004, Steve Jobs approached Isaacson and asked if he was interested in writing Jobs' biography. Isaacson declined several times, thinking that it was too soon to write one and that it would be better to wait a few decades. It wasn't until 2009 when Jobs' wife bluntly told him that Jobs was seriously ill from cancer and that there was little time to lose. Isaacson said he hadnI had to be convinced by a GR friend to read this book, similarly to how Isaacson had to be convinced to write it.

Back in 2004, Steve Jobs approached Isaacson and asked if he was interested in writing Jobs' biography. Isaacson declined several times, thinking that it was too soon to write one and that it would be better to wait a few decades. It wasn't until 2009 when Jobs' wife bluntly told him that Jobs was seriously ill from cancer and that there was little time to lose. Isaacson said he hadn't known Jobs was sick; she said few people knew and that Jobs had been trying to keep it a secret.

Isaacson finally agreed to write the biography, and Jobs agreed that he wouldn't have any control over the book, which was rare, considering how controlling and demanding he had been over all the various projects at Apple.

I had been reluctant to read this book for several reasons. First, because Jobs was a known jackass and I wasn't that interested in reading the various examples of his jackassery. Second, I am not a techie, and while I like and use Apple products every day, I was hesitant to spend my precious reading time on a tech book. Thirdly, this bio is more than 600 pages long! That seemed excessive.

A solution was found in an audiobook (read by Dylan Baker), and I am glad I gave it a chance. I was won over early on in the book, when Isaacson included a quote from Jobs in the introduction:

"'I always thought of myself as a humanities person as a kid, but I liked electronics,' he said. 'Then I read something that one of my heroes, Edwin Land of Polaroid, said about the importance of people who could stand at the intersection of humanities and sciences, and I decided that's what I wanted to do.' It was as if he were suggesting themes for his biography (and in this instance, at least, the theme turned out to be valid). The creativity that can occur when a feel for both the humanities and the sciences combine in one strong personality was the topic that most interested me in my biographies of Franklin and Einstein, and I believe that it will be a key to creating innovative economies in the twenty-first century."

Now THAT is a theme I can get behind. I love the idea of combining artistry and technology, and it's true that Jobs and Apple excelled at creating innovative and beautiful products. Despite my hesitation, I ended up enjoying the stories of how Jobs got his start in computers, and how he met and started collaborating with Steve Wozniak, and the evolution of products at Apple over the decades. Growing up in the 80s, I frequently used those early Apple computers. My friends and I played games on them, and I wrote my school reports on them. Apple computers were just so cool.

I liked learning the details of how Jobs helped design the products, including his emphasis that even the parts that are not seen should be beautiful and well-built. He had learned this at a young age from his father, who was a mechanic and a craftsman, and he taught Steve to make sure that the back of something was crafted just as well as the front, even if no one saw it. Jobs took the spirit of artistry very seriously, and always insisted that the designers at Apple were making art with their products. He even had his design team sign the inside of the computer frames, just as a painter would, even though no one but them knew it was there.

Another part of the book that I found interesting was Jobs' history with Microsoft founder Bill Gates, with whom he had a fiercely competitive but (mostly) respectful relationship. The two men had very different ideas about system design, and computer techies will probably enjoy the debate of open vs. closed systems.

A lot has been written about what a jerk Jobs could be, including telling people to their face that they sucked, that their designs sucked, and that they should be fired for their suckitude. It is also true that he was a dirty hippie, and in the early days of Apple, colleagues had to beg him to take a shower. (Jobs thought that because he was a vegetarian, he didn't need to bathe.) At certain points, I was infuriated with Jobs, both over his treatment of others and later, over his refusal to deal with his cancer diagnosis. When he first learned he was ill, he defied his doctor's advice and delayed having surgery to remove the tumors, giving them months to spread. While impossible to prove, it is likely he could have greatly extended his life had he not been so stubborn in avoiding modern medicine.

In the end, I admit I was fascinated by Steve Jobs. He had a remarkable life and career, and while it is a cliche, his products helped change the world. I would highly recommend this biography....more

MardiSteve was a brilliant mind, too affected by the age of Aquarius! Good thing he was smart, otherwise he would never have been much of anything, hippiesSteve was a brilliant mind, too affected by the age of Aquarius! Good thing he was smart, otherwise he would never have been much of anything, hippies have to convert to capitalism to become billionaires!...more
Aug 20, 2014 07:16PM

MargitteGreat review! I love the idea that neither the book, nor your review tries to declare Job a saint. Admiration is fine, and who do not want to admire sGreat review! I love the idea that neither the book, nor your review tries to declare Job a saint. Admiration is fine, and who do not want to admire such a go-getter. In historical context he truly changed the world, whether he was loved or loathed. Pity those computers are so expensive. I would love one. lolol, but there's no way I can replace the Bill Gates version very soon. :-))...more
Aug 27, 2014 07:21PM

I'm still not entirely sure what to think. I keep flipflopping between annoyed/disgusted and inspired.

I applaud Isaacson for putting a masterful bio together without succumbing to the Reality Distortion Field and vomiting out a piece of Jobs-worship like some Apple/Steve-related books out there. I also really appreciate all these little anecdotes, some that I have seen before and others that are new and all the more enjoyable, that people that knew and interacted with Steve shared in one way orI'm still not entirely sure what to think. I keep flipflopping between annoyed/disgusted and inspired.

I applaud Isaacson for putting a masterful bio together without succumbing to the Reality Distortion Field and vomiting out a piece of Jobs-worship like some Apple/Steve-related books out there. I also really appreciate all these little anecdotes, some that I have seen before and others that are new and all the more enjoyable, that people that knew and interacted with Steve shared in one way or another.

On the other hand, I like my personal heroes to have a smidgen of friendly and positive virtues like courtesy and generosity. This book blows away many times over any idea I had that Steve might have been a nice guy at heart with occasional and sometimes very public extremism. The stories related to his daughters and many other women in his personal life nauseated me. I'm frustrated that what I already knew to be his horrifying but effective work attitude also crossed over to his personal life. I appreciate his work and his efforts and he is singlehandedly responsible for me being what I am today, but I despise myself at the moment for having thought this dickless asshole as an awesome role model when I was younger. I wasn't expecting perfection in this regard since we are all human after all, but it was eye opening to see the whole picture in a single book.

But that is what I signed up for when I decided to read a no holds barred official bio of Steve, I suppose. Good and bad and worse, all packaged together in a book that is no less beautiful than the products Apple puts out.

Tomorrow, I will probably feel bad about this review and feel more inspired by the positive aspects of this bio to push myself harder to work better and to do what is right, like Steve would have done. Then the next day I will be frustrated that he didn't have surgery sooner and think about the what ifs. Rinse, repeat.

edit: Tomorrow is today... and Mona's eulogy for her brother is in the NYT (http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/30/opi...). I think that wonderful eulogy brought more tears to my eyes than this bio or even his death did. Short, simple but beautiful, and more importantly, shows me another side of Steve that is more like the person I thought he was before I read the bio. The side that cared about his family but was hindered by the cancer, spreading and getting worse. Thanks for restoring my faith, Mona....more

I was a little surprised when Steve Jobs died that I actually had an emotional reaction of loss. He was always such a warrior for technological evolution, conceiving products that we didn't know we needed until we held them in our hands. I didn't know I needed an iPod, now I can't travel anywhere without slipping 13,000 songs into my pocket. I now have a playlist for any situation, a wedding, a long drive, robbing a bank, meditation etc. What was so unique about Jobs was that he was a creative pI was a little surprised when Steve Jobs died that I actually had an emotional reaction of loss. He was always such a warrior for technological evolution, conceiving products that we didn't know we needed until we held them in our hands. I didn't know I needed an iPod, now I can't travel anywhere without slipping 13,000 songs into my pocket. I now have a playlist for any situation, a wedding, a long drive, robbing a bank, meditation etc. What was so unique about Jobs was that he was a creative person who also had the power to bring a progressive product to life. Good ideas did not die in committee at Apple or Pixar. For some reason conservative leaning people elevate to the highest positions in business in this country. Apple also went through a period of time when Jobs was too radical for a board of directors who wanted to make Apple more like other companies. After reading this biography, I know now that Jobs deserved to be ousted, and what a great occurrence for the world because Pixar would have never been created. He benefited from his time away, learning lessons of consolidating power. When Apple floundered and Jobs was brought back he was much better equipped to lead a company

I have always been mystified by the divisions in the country between Apple and Microsoft. I have owned a lot more Apple products than I have PC based products. So without even realizing I guess at some point I joined team Jobs. I used Apples and PCs without really thinking I was being disloyal to a brand, but I have been on the periphery of many heated arguments discussing the merits of PC versus the merits of Macs. I always felt that Jobs was the guy with the concepts and ideas and Gates was sitting around twiddling his thumbs waiting for Jobs to come up with the next "great thing" so he could clone it. There is more truth in that statement than fervent PC believers would like to admit.

One of Jobs ex-girlfriends happened to read in a psychiatric manual about Narcissistic personality Disorder and decided that Jobs perfectly met the criteria. "It fit so well and explained so much of what we had struggled with, that I realized expecting him to be nicer or less self-centered was like expecting a blind man to see." Jobs was brutal to his employees, to his family, and to his business partners. One of his favorite lines when looking at a new concept was to say "this is shit". He was a ranter, skilled with skewering insults, contemptuously rude, and yet so sensitive to any slight. When faced with a fond memory or a beautiful concept that he loved he would burst into tears. To say the least, being in the Steve Jobs orbit would have been not only stressful, but confusing. The people that did the best with him were the people that pushed through the "distortion field" that Jobs was nestled in his whole life. For all his failings as a human being and as a boss he was also a talented communicator inspiring people way beyond what they thought they were capable of accomplishing. He firmly believed that nothing was worth doing unless it was going to change the world and that belief was infectious to those that worked with him.

When Steve Jobs was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer I can remember thinking to myself that no one had ever beaten that form of cancer, but I also thought to myself if anyone can it would be Steve Jobs. His money bought him time. They were able to map the gene of the cancer that was trying to kill him and better target chemo and drugs that would most effectively control the growth of the cancer. "One of his doctors told him that there was hope that his cancer, and others like it, would soon be considered a manageable chronic disease, which could be kept at bay until the patient died of something else." As Jobs said, "I'm either going to be one of the first to be able to outrun a cancer like this, or I'm going to be one of the last to die from it." As we know he lost his battle with cancer, but certainly the money he threw at the disease will end up benefiting all of us.

Walter Isaacson is an excellent biographer, I enjoyed his Benjamin Franklin bio very much and intend to read the Einstein biography as well. Steve approached Isaacson to write his biography and Isaacson asked him if he wanted him to write it because he associated himself with Einstein and Franklin. Jobs didn't deny it. He was well aware of his place in history. I liked Steve Jobs more before reading this biography. I have a deeper understanding of how and why he was so successful. I can not emulate his management style nor would I ever want to. He was a destructive personality that inspired creativity. I feel we are diminished by his absence from the ranks and I can only hope there is a young person in a messy garage, tinkering with the concept that will be the next "thing" that will change our lives. ...more

Janet KeetenWe may know in our hearts we are doing the right thing, but the rest of the world does not value a nice person. Mostly, they are taken advantage of anWe may know in our hearts we are doing the right thing, but the rest of the world does not value a nice person. Mostly, they are taken advantage of and then held responsible for bringing it on themselves. No one took advantage of Jobs. I think his biography is more than a history; it is a treatise on what we value in people, what we are willing to put up with (for a price), and a red hot poker in our mores. Painful, but honest....more
Jan 09, 2012 05:47PM

Liz CalderonJanet wrote: "We may know in our hearts we are doing the right thing, but the rest of the world does not value a nice person. Mostly, they are taken aJanet wrote: "We may know in our hearts we are doing the right thing, but the rest of the world does not value a nice person. Mostly, they are taken advantage of and then held responsible for bringing it on them..."

You think? My personal experience is that respect and consideration for others is highly valued by me and others I know. I have worked for jerks, but not for long. On the other hand, I've worked for respectful people and would do go above and beyond for them. I don't think disrespect and verbal abuse is an effective way to manage or interact with people (even for geniuses). I think Steve/Apple had to be very selective in who he worked with (the "A" level performers) because others just wouldn't subject themselves to the misery. The "A" people suffered through his behavior because (1) they developed ways to cope with his outrageousness and (2) were vested in creating the Apple products....more
Jun 21, 2014 12:06PM

In a way, I regard this book as a balanced biography. Even though Walter Isaacson is apparently unsatisfied with having gotten all of Steve Jobs's shaft into his mouth and spends a lot of time sucking on Jobs's balls, his recounting of Steve Jobs's behavior left me unavoidably with the impression that Steve Jobs was a world-class asshole. Jobs is presented as so much of a whining, pathetic bully that I find myself glad that he died of pancreatic cancer, and I also find myself regretting that heIn a way, I regard this book as a balanced biography. Even though Walter Isaacson is apparently unsatisfied with having gotten all of Steve Jobs's shaft into his mouth and spends a lot of time sucking on Jobs's balls, his recounting of Steve Jobs's behavior left me unavoidably with the impression that Steve Jobs was a world-class asshole. Jobs is presented as so much of a whining, pathetic bully that I find myself glad that he died of pancreatic cancer, and I also find myself regretting that he did not die sooner.

[paragraph listing instances of Jobs's assholish behavior]

In Cormac McCarthy's Blood Meridian, the sentence "Glanton spat." appears almost like a refrain in a song. Glanton does a lot of spitting. In Walter Isaacson's Steve Jobs, the clause "Jobs cried" appears with the same frequency. Jobs does a lot of crying. Jobs would cry any time he didn't get his way. His tendency to cry makes me wish I--as technically inept as Jobs himself--could bully someone cleverer than I into building a time machine, so I could use it to go back in time and beat the crap out of Steve Jobs.

He fucked over Woz.He continually told people that they were shit.He was duped by John Sculley.He held people in contempt when they didn't behave like assholes.He demanded that a machine in a factory be painted. It fucked up the machine.

On The Subject of Jobs's 30th Birthday Party--------------------------------------------

"Many people had picked out special gifts for a person who was not easy to shop for. Debi Coleman, for example, found a first edition of F. Scott Fitzgerald's 'The Last Tycoon'. But Jobs, in an act that was odd yet not out of character, left all of the gifts in a hotel room."page 189

For contrast, on my 30th birthday I bought myself a dog toy in the shape of a plush shotgun shell. It squeaked when you squeezed it. My sister's then-boyfriend did some repairs on my car, which was really nice of him. My point is that Steve Jobs is an inconsiderate asshole.

It's kind of fun to read this book if you think of it as a drinking game where you drink every time Steve Jobs is an asshole. You'd be dead of alcohol poisoning by page 10 if you actually drank every time Isaacson reported an instance of Steve Jobs being an asshole. But it's kind of fun to be surprised on every page by a new way in which Jobs is an asshole. Jobs is an inexhaustible genius of finding ways to be an asshole. Look at this shit, from page 188:

[...] Andy Cunningham, from Regis McKenna's firm, was in charge of hand-holding and logistics at the Carlyle. When Jobs arrived, he told her that his suite needed to be completely redone, even though it was 10 p.m. and the meetings were to begin the next day. The piano was not in the right place; the strawberries were the wrong type. But his biggest objection was that he didn't like the flowers. He wanted calla lilies. "We got into a big fight on what a calla lily is," Cunningham recalled. "I know what they are, because I had them at my wedding, but he insisted on having a different type of lily and said I was 'stupid' because I didn't know what a real calla lily was." So Cunningham went out and, this being New York, was able to find a place open at midnight where she could get the lilies he wanted. By the time they got the room rearranged, Jobs started objecting to what she was wearing. "That suit's disgusting," he told her. Cunningham knew that at times he just simmered with undirected anger, so she tried to calm him down. "Look, I know you're angry, and I know how you feel," she said."

"You have no fucking idea how I feel," he shot back, "no fucking idea what it's like to be me."

I'll tell you what it feels like to be Steve Jobs: it feels like you're a fucking asshole.

[All of page 462 should be included here, to show what an asshole Jobs is, even after he has had cancer.]

This book could also have been called The Crying Asshole. See for yourself:

Page 197: "Then he began to cry."

Steve Jobs, a cause of crying in others as well as himself: "After Jobs stalked out, Sculley turned away from the glass wall of his office, where others had been looking in on the meeting, and wept." (page 199)

Page 202: "He went back to his office, gathered his longtime loyalists on the Macintosh staff, and started to cry."

Page 206: 'It finally sank in. Jobs realized there was no appeal, no way to warp the reality. He broke down in tears and started making phone calls--to Bill Campbell, Jay Elliot, Mike Murray, and others. Murray's wife, Joyce., was on an overseas call when Jobs phoned, and the operator broke in saying it was an emergency. It better be important, she told the operator. "It is," she heard Jobs say. When her husband got on the phone, Jobs was crying. "It's over," he said. Then he hung up.'

Page 208: Years later Jobs's eyes welled with tears as he recounted the story [...]

Page 442: They all hugged, and Jobs wept.

-------------------------------------------Part II of this Review

Isaacson's biography is soft and untechnical, and that's a real shame because it's the anointed-by-Steve-Jobs-himself biography that, at least for the moment, is the Steve Jobs biography of record.

Isaacson is not up to the task of explaining what Jobs did when he was at NeXT. That's a shame, because Jobs's work at NeXT forms the basis for everything that Apple is today.

There are a couple of reasons an author might want to avoid trying to explain what Jobs did at NeXT. The main reason is that it's fucking complicated. The other reason is that it's boring for most people to read about. (Take it from me, a paid technical writer.) I suspect that Isaacson does not have the technical understanding necessary to explain why the NeXT years were important. It would have taken months and possibly as much as a couple of years for Isaacson to develop the understanding he would need to explain how NeXT was different, and what it made possible that wasn't possible before. Clearly Isaacson didn't find that appealing. Also, probably most of the reading public doesn't want to read a highly technical explanation of the innovations that went into the NeXT operating system.

But that means that this book fails to describe the major achievement of Jobs's life. This is probably going to be the biography of record for Steve Jobs. I leave it as an exercise for the reader to determine how shitty this is.

For comparison, Isaacson spends five pages (411-415) describing the contents of Jobs's playlist. Isaacson even talks about how he and Jobs sat around listening to the music on Jobs's iPad2, and reports things that Jobs says about the songs he's listening to. Except for when Jobs is yelling at people for stupid bullshit, he never seems more common in this biography than when he is saying dumb wistful stuff about Boomer music on his iPad2.

Here's Jobs, bloviating about The Beatles while listening to the recording sessions for "Strawberry Fields Forever":

It's a complex song, and it's fascinating to watch the creative process as they went back and forth and finally created it over a few months. Lennon was always my favorite Beatle. [He laughs as Lennon stops during the first take and makes the band go back and revise a chord.] Did you hear that little detour they took? It didn't work, so they went back and started from where they were. It's so raw in this version. It actually makes them sound like mere mortals. You could actually imagine other people doing this, up to this version. Maybe not writing and conceiving it, but certainly playing it. Yet they just didn't stop. They were such perfectionists they keep it going and going. This made a big impression on me when I was in my thirties. You could just tell how much they worked at this.

They did a bundle of work between each of these recordings. They kept sending it back to make it closer to perfect. [As he listens to the third take, he points out how the instrumentation has gotten more complex.] The way we build stuff at Apple is often this way. Even the number of models we'd make of a new notebook or iPod. We would start off with a version and then begin refining and refining, doing detailed models of the design, or the buttons, or how a function operates. It's a lot of work, but in the end it just gets better, and soon it's like, "Wow, how did they do that?!? Where are the screws?"pp.418-419

So there's Steve Jobs, convincing himself that he invented iterative design because he heard the Beatles do something like it. It's kind of like how Eddie Van Halen says that he realized he could tap when he was at a Led Zeppelin concert and he saw Jimmy Page play the open G string and then hammer on the A on the second fret over and over again. Except in this case, it has nothing to do with guitar playing and everything to do with Steve Jobs convincing himself that he invented iterative design and then cramming his own cock into his throat. The only real consolation to be had in this story is that pancreatic cancer is eating him.

-----------------------Part III of this Review

Isaacson has an easier time of explaining the end of Jobs's life, because he stays away from technical material and focuses on easy-to-understand numbers that tell easy-to-understand stories. Here's an example, from the part of the book describing when Jobs convinced Disney to buy Pixar:

The deal the proposed was that Disney would purchase Pixar for $7.4 billion in stock. Jobs would thus become Disney's largest shareholder, with approximately 7% of the company's stock compared to 1.7% owned by Eisner and 1$ by Roy Disney. Disney Animation would be put under Pixar, with Lasseter and Catmull running the combined unit. Pixar would retain its independent identity, its studio and headquarters would remain in Emeryville, and it would even keep its own email addresses.(p.441)

This story's pretty straightforward: Jobs is rich, and then he gets richer. That's a lot easier to understand than the technical innovations of NeXT. And it's in the book, unlike the technical part of the NeXT years.

When discussing Apple's decision to dump the PowerPC and move to Intel microprocessors, Issacson gets about as technical as he ever gets:

Bill Gates was amazed. Designing crazy-colored cases did not impress him, but a secret program to switch the CPU in a computer, completed seamlessly and on time, was a feat he truly admired. "If you'd said 'Okay, we're going to change our microprocessor chip, and we're not going to lose a beat,' that sounds impossible," he told me years later, when I asked him about Jobs's accomplishments. "They basically did that."(p.448)

I want to make sure to point out some examples of Isaacson sucking the cock of Steve Jobs, to bolster my claim that this is less a biography and more an advertisement for Steve Jobs. So here's a paragraph lifted verbatim from a part of the book where Isaacson is reporting on Steve Jobs's 2005 Stanford commencement speech:

The artful minimalism of the speech gave it simplicity, purity, and charm. Search where you will, from anthologies to YouTube, and you won't find a better commencement address. Others may have been more important, such as George Marshall's at Harvard in 1947 announcing a plan to rebuild Europe, but none has had more grace.(page 457)

Slurp, slurp, slurp.

---UPDATE 09 Feb 2014---Virtuous men, busy in the affairs of life, and occupied continually in the saying of virtuous words and the doing of virtuous deeds, are apt to lose track of one lone expression of virtue, however excellent and meritorious, amid the endless succession of righteous and virtuous actions of which their admirable and praiseworthy lives consist. And so it is with unfeigned gratitude that I greet the comment of Hazem Bayado, who, upon seeing my excellent review of Walter Isaacson's Steve Jobs, was moved to express this:

How can one hate a review here!! While the reviewer mentioned some important points, in particular the NeXT years, or the absence of them actually, I found his continuous sexual analogies to be juvenile, distracting and generally degrading for the review. Ok so Steve Jobs was an asshole in your mind, but what do you call someone who is happy and satisfied about the fact that cancer is eating another human alive? Asshole is an understatement!!!

Hazem Bayado's comment brought again to my attention the nearly-forgotten review of Steve Jobs that I composed last May, and thereby afforded me the opportunity to be pleased and delighted by my assessment of the character of Steve Jobs, and to marvel at how correct I was at so tender and green an age, when my judgment was much younger and less-tried than it is today.

I should like to take this opportunity to dedicate myself anew to the proposition I articulated here eight months ago to the amusement and enlightenment of so many, that Steve Jobs is an asshole. Why, just the other day, Mark Ames reported that Steve Jobs was involved in a conspiracy to drive down the wages of developers in Silicon Valley: http://goo.gl/C9FBnp. Truly, this is a genius asshole, a Tupac of assholery, to continue from beyond the grave to give reporters material for new reports of assholery of kinds heretofore undared. What fool, having been presented with this information, would gainsay the proposition that Steve Jobs is an asshole? What depravity could give rise to such foolishness?

I am sorry that Hazem Bayado found my "continuous sexual analogies to be juvenile, distracting, and generally degrading for the review", but I do wish him well.

Is it too much to hope that Hazem Bayado will be able to suck greater command of the English language out of a dick? I do hope it isn't, because all people of parts, with their faculties keen to the happenings of the world, can not fail to mark, and can probably not refrain from remaking upon, just how very much he sucks dick. I hope that he manages to suck greater command of the English language out of one of the endless parade of dicks that marches down his throat, so that he may be less a target of sport for those of us with greater command of the tongue.

In closing, I can see nothing to alter my earlier judgment, and it is with a great sense of pride that I sustain that earlier judgment and re-dedicate myself to the proposition that Steve Jobs is an asshole. Thank you, Hazem Bayado, for allowing me to spend time in the company of my former self, admiring his courage and revelling in the wisdom of his superior judgment....more

KayFirst off: I did not finish this review. I get the drift - the reviewer hates Steve Jobs. The intensity of the response makes me wonder if the revieweFirst off: I did not finish this review. I get the drift - the reviewer hates Steve Jobs. The intensity of the response makes me wonder if the reviewer used to work in Silicon Valley? Had some terrible experience with their home computer or tech support...? Work for Bill Gates...? Remember, less is more. Long, vociferous reviews are a tough read. Most people will not take the time....more
Nov 29, 2014 10:45PM

Isaacson's book reads just like a Time Magazine. I hate Time Magazine.

He prefers telling to showing in his prose, reminds us of his theses whenever they apply, and conveys emotion via bludgeoning, shallow diction. It's that last point that most bothers me, since it leaked into his disappointing performance as an interviewer as well: for instance, he notes dozens of times that someone wept after some event but does not follow up with questions of "why? would you have reacted that way now? how doIsaacson's book reads just like a Time Magazine. I hate Time Magazine.

He prefers telling to showing in his prose, reminds us of his theses whenever they apply, and conveys emotion via bludgeoning, shallow diction. It's that last point that most bothers me, since it leaked into his disappointing performance as an interviewer as well: for instance, he notes dozens of times that someone wept after some event but does not follow up with questions of "why? would you have reacted that way now? how do you think this affected others? how did that influence your decision-making? etc."

When Isaacson turned—rarely—to analysis, interpretation, and abstraction, he provided little additional depth. The author rarely examined his subject's assertions and ideologies critically. This book, then, is useful not so much as a biography but rather as simply a primary source of quotations and accounts. That's tragic because it's almost certainly the best one we're going to get, yet because of its focus on products over people, it's missing so, so much.

Why did Jobs seem to prefer Reed to his daughters? How did Laurene put up with his behavior, and to what extent did she think it necessary to his accomplishments? Did Jobs feel that the ends justify the means with respect to his products, or did he simply fail to notice his often-nasty means? Did he believe that one must behave interpersonally with moral disregard to achieve as he did; if so, why? How would he explain Cook's success via absolutely orthogonal style? How did Laurene feel about his lingering feeling for Redse? What would his board say to the author's implied allegation that they are essentially his puppets?

There is so much fascinating depth to Jobs's story that is simply not considered. It's this depth and understanding, I feel, that matters: after all, aren't all of us reading this biography because we wish we could replicate Jobs's achievements, yearn to walk a vicarious mile in his shoes, wonder just how much it cost him? Having finished the book, I'm left wondering whether I have trouble empathizing with Jobs because I simply can't understand his moral and rational framework—or because Isaacson's account is so frustratingly impersonal and shallow....more

JaneIn addition to my visceral reaction to certain stories, I knew deep down inside but didn't know how to express that there was something to it that wasIn addition to my visceral reaction to certain stories, I knew deep down inside but didn't know how to express that there was something to it that was missing that would turn it into something more than just your average, fairly impersonal biography. I think you nailed it.

I don't know that the average reader is looking for as much, and I'm personally impressed that Isaacson didn't give into the distortion field like so many others have, but I yearn for more too. We'll probably never know :(...more
Nov 01, 2011 03:03PM

I am a little surprised this book ended up being such a disappointment. Walter Isaacson just doesn't know that much about the tech industry and, despite the opportunity and access, didn't learn enough to make it interesting. The one saving grace was the participation of Steve Jobs, his friends, and family, and this alone rescues the book from a lower rating.

Granted, this biography is meant for a mass audience, not someone who is a regular listener of Apple podcasts (yes, like me). The early chaI am a little surprised this book ended up being such a disappointment. Walter Isaacson just doesn't know that much about the tech industry and, despite the opportunity and access, didn't learn enough to make it interesting. The one saving grace was the participation of Steve Jobs, his friends, and family, and this alone rescues the book from a lower rating.

Granted, this biography is meant for a mass audience, not someone who is a regular listener of Apple podcasts (yes, like me). The early chapters are fine, though others have pointed out it's largely cribbed from previous books. I was the least familiar with this era, and especially unaware to the extent Jobs was... sorry, it's only way to put this: a fucking whiny little bitch. Every few pages he's crying to get what he wants. Seriously.

It's the second half that was a bigger letdown, at least in regard to the inside story of Apple's business decisions and where products are concerned. Sure, there's plenty here, but it's out of chronological order, difficult to follow, and there are big gaps. Isaacson is better at writing about Jobs the individual than he is about Jobs the businessman, and let's not forget that's why we know or care who Steve Jobs was.

If you're looking for much more detail than the order in which Apple signed music companies to the iTunes Store, you may be similarly disappointed. If you don't know much more than the broad outlines of Steve Jobs' career, this may be a perfectly worthwhile read. That said, there's also plenty Isaacson gets wrong; I defer to John Siracusa on specific errors and omissions by Isaacson, and as of this writing he's only halfway there: http://5by5.tv/hypercritical/42...more

KathyInteresting to read your review. "If you don't know much more than the broad outlines of Steve Jobs' career, this may be a perfectly worthwhile read."Interesting to read your review. "If you don't know much more than the broad outlines of Steve Jobs' career, this may be a perfectly worthwhile read." - That's me! I'll let you know after I read more how I am impressed or not impressed. You write a great review! It was fun to read it. You are an amazing writer....more
Nov 17, 2011 07:49AM

the review manSomehow, as soon as I saw the word "disappointment" in the first line, I just knew there was going to be a Siracusa reference. That podcast was bang-oSomehow, as soon as I saw the word "disappointment" in the first line, I just knew there was going to be a Siracusa reference. That podcast was bang-on....more
Nov 19, 2011 07:36AM

William@Kathy Thanks! I do think you would get a lot out of this book. Although not what it could have been, it's certainly an accessible biography, and Isaa@Kathy Thanks! I do think you would get a lot out of this book. Although not what it could have been, it's certainly an accessible biography, and Isaacson should be praised for not letting his access to Jobs discourage him from describing Jobs at his worst.

@Dan As some say the iPhone was the device Apple put on this Earth to create, perhaps so too was that episode the podcast Siracusa was put on this Earth to record....more
Nov 21, 2011 06:42AM

I knew that I would enjoy this book after reading the first few pages, but it far exceeded my expectations. I love learning the history behind products that I use or am familiar with, and Walter Isaacson's book lays out the history of every product Steve Job's is responsible for.

Laurene Powell, Jobs' wife, told Isaacson that she didn't want her husband's life whitewashed, and he certainly didn't. Along with Steve the brilliant innovator who knew how to bring together an A-list team of loyal empI knew that I would enjoy this book after reading the first few pages, but it far exceeded my expectations. I love learning the history behind products that I use or am familiar with, and Walter Isaacson's book lays out the history of every product Steve Job's is responsible for.

Laurene Powell, Jobs' wife, told Isaacson that she didn't want her husband's life whitewashed, and he certainly didn't. Along with Steve the brilliant innovator who knew how to bring together an A-list team of loyal employees, we get Steve the rude man who will proclaim a product or food or wedding invitation as "shit" and then walk away with a clear conscience; Steve the man who has no qualms about crying in front of others if he doesn't get his way or is overburdened; Steve the selfish man who doesn't bother to remember birthdays or anniversaries; Steve the lousy father who denied fathering his first daughter for the first six years of her life, and who wasn't there much for his three children with Powell.

I was surprised when I learned that Jobs was not only cooperating with Isaacson on this book, but sought him out. Steve explained that it was because he wanted his children to truly know their father, and I'm so glad that I got to know him, too. ...more

CarolineHa ha ha! That is so brilliant Jeanette. I am about a quarter of a way through reading the book, and you said it perfectly, just in two and a half senHa ha ha! That is so brilliant Jeanette. I am about a quarter of a way through reading the book, and you said it perfectly, just in two and a half sentences.......more
May 26, 2014 12:10AM

To date all my computer fanship has been geared towards Linus Torvalds and Linux, even though (for now) I limp along grumpily with Windows. Steve Jobs and Apple? Pah! I couldn't bear the snobbish one-upmanship rantings of Apple and it's aficionados. It was therefore with some hesitancy I approached Steve Jobs's biography. Someone I follow here at GR had recommended it, plus it had been sitting on a shelf in the library forever and I kept bumping into it.

So, in spite of my reservations I took itTo date all my computer fanship has been geared towards Linus Torvalds and Linux, even though (for now) I limp along grumpily with Windows. Steve Jobs and Apple? Pah! I couldn't bear the snobbish one-upmanship rantings of Apple and it's aficionados. It was therefore with some hesitancy I approached Steve Jobs's biography. Someone I follow here at GR had recommended it, plus it had been sitting on a shelf in the library forever and I kept bumping into it.

So, in spite of my reservations I took it out....and it rewarded me by flying in the face my prejudice. I absolutely loved it ... Walter Isaacson is a superb writer, and in spite of the fact that Jobs was one of the most prickly and outspoken people on the planet - he has done a brilliant job in researching this abrasive genius.

And it turns out, after all, that that Steve Jobs was a genius. He often talked to his staff insultingly, or treated them like idiots; he often stole their ideas, or gave them impossible deadlines - at one stage he even wanted them all to wear a uniform. But they kept coming back for more. He had such passion and drive, artistry and originality..... Nothing but perfection would do. Plus he was the ultimate iconic figure of cool. He inspired enormous loyalty in his workforce, and in all those who bought a piece of Apple magic. As Daniel Lyons of Newsweek Magazine said ""He has an uncanny ability to cook up gadgets that we didn't know we needed, but then suddenly can't live without".

To read about the life, creativity and development of this man was fascinating.

I'm still a Linux person. I ain't no Apple groover. But now I'm prepared to doff my hat to this extraordinary man and his mind-boggling achievements. For all his shortcomings he was a giant in our landscape. I also want to read more books by Walter Isaacson....more

I'm going to post my blog entry on this in its entirety, even though it covers thoughts not strictly related just to the biography, but the biography inspired it all.

I recently finished reading Steve Jobs, the well-written and extensive biography by Walter Issacson. Apple's products, and accordingly Steve Jobs, have made a big impact in my life. First and foremost, computers add a lot more to my life than they would have without the products Apple makes, but also they've influenced my thinking aI'm going to post my blog entry on this in its entirety, even though it covers thoughts not strictly related just to the biography, but the biography inspired it all.

I recently finished reading Steve Jobs, the well-written and extensive biography by Walter Issacson. Apple's products, and accordingly Steve Jobs, have made a big impact in my life. First and foremost, computers add a lot more to my life than they would have without the products Apple makes, but also they've influenced my thinking about technology in important ways significant to my career.

Early in my life I was exposed to a few Apple computers and wasn't really impressed. While the interfaces seemed like fun toys, I was never really tempted to actually sit in front of one day in and day out.

In about 2004, I was hired as CTO of Farheap Solutions. It was my first CTO role at a mid-sized company and I had a staff of over a hundred. I was delighted that with a few exceptions, the company was standardized on Linux. It wasn't just my group, but nearly everyone throughout the company. One set of exceptions were people who had some application that necessitated Windows such as some of the accounting / finance people. The other major exception were people who had laptops. Back then, it was still rather painful to get Linux running on laptops and the path of least resistance was taken and Windows tended to be selected for laptops unless tech people with laptops wanted to fight the battle themselves. I needed a laptop.

Our organization was too flat when I first started, so I quickly hired my long-time friend and colleague, Brian Yoder, as a Director of Engineering. When he heard me lamenting the upcoming pain of putting Linux on a laptop, he suggested that I try a Mac. I knew he was a fan, but I tried to wave it off as not being able to do what I wanted and needing the flexibility Linux would allow. He assured me that my conclusion was based on much older machines and that OSX was based on BSD and if I really didn't like everything that was the Mac, I could always just open terminal windows and function that way until I got something better, but really, I was going to love it and I should trust him. I somewhat reluctantly agreed as long as he promised to sit with me and show me how to use the thing.The training session was really unnecessary. Everything was extremely intuitive, though it was nice to have explicit introduction to new conventions like inspectors without having to grope toward them. I loved the thing from the first day. Everything I had thought a computer should be, and many things that I would have thought they should be if I had been clever enough to think of them, the Mac was. I had all the power of the *nix systems I preferred and a user interface that I came to trust and that made everything... perfect.

Later, I partook in the fun of waiting in line to get an iPhone on their initial release. That started the process of the Mac becoming the center of my digital life. I got my music collection all in one place. I tended to travel or commute a lot and liked audio books, but centralized storage and tracking increased how much I read by a factor of at least 10. I discovered podcasts. Instead of a plastic storage bin in my garage holding photos that I rarely looked at, I started getting everything scanned and started organizing digital photos. Apple's devices made it easy and fun to centralize and really enjoy anything that could be reduced to digital data.

I had been a strong and vocal supporter of open software. Apple made me realize that what I really wanted was good software that did what I wanted. I rarely got the latter. Microsoft failed miserably. Linux was usually far short as well, but rather than being limited by the software or platform, I was only limited by effort I was willing to put into it. That was far more appealing to my personal tastes, even if the results were sometimes worse. Apple took a closed, "integrated," approach with Big Brother fastidiousness. Instead of rubbing against my grain, I found that I simply loved it. If me of 2000 heard me of today talking about the computers and software in my life, he simply wouldn't believe it. Steve Jobs made every decision for me, but he did it at least as well, and often better, than I would have done, and I was happier than I than I ever imagined I could be with the computers in my life. I gritted my teeth once in a while at the thought that some day Apple might make some choice I just couldn't live with and then I'd be screwed, but that shoe still hasn't fallen.

The biography was amazing. It enabled me to explicitly identify a lot that was just felt previously. As a crusty, increasingly "white beard" type of technologist, I tended to eschew design. I made things work, and that's what I cared about. Jobs looked at computers as things that could potentially be beautiful. Up until reading the biography, I wouldn't have thought that was too important. Sure, a sleek aluminum case looks nice, but that isn't what draws me to the products. It's how they work. But that's not what the design-orientation and beauty focus is about. It's part of it, but not the important part.

Consider an example, not from the book. If you buy a new Mac and turn it on, after some razzle dazzle and video it'll politely ask you if you're migrating from an old Mac. If you admit that you are, it says, "Bring forth the firewire!" You attach the two computers and wait a few minutes and then your new Mac has everything moved over. And your same applications are open. And the half-written email sitting on your desktop on the old Mac is on the new one. With the cursor blinking happily in the same place. That's what *should* happen. That's not what you expect from your experience if you don't use Apple products. That sort of perfection is what Steve Jobs demanded and made important.

Or take backups. It's always been possible. It's always been too painful to do a competent job. So like almost everyone I just copied a few directories to servers or thumb drives once in a while and hoped for the best. How can anyone who has used Time Machine look anyone in the eye and say they do something else?

These aren't isolated examples. Everything works that way. Apple makes mistakes, like with the antenna on the iPhone 4. It isn't that they're infallible. It is that they elevate this sort of thing to the forefront of importance and that makes all the difference.

I have a friend and colleague who, unimaginably to me, prefers Windows to Mac. One of his chief complaints is that Macs are "overpriced." He reduces this claim to arguing that similar CPU and memory capacity are more cheaply available in alternatives. That's certainly true, but I've become so steeped in Apple mindset that it is difficult to imagine thinking that way. Apple isn't selling CPU cycles. It is selling as perfect a user experience as is possible. I can't imagine caring about anything else for a machine that you're going to actually sit in front of. I don't run Mac servers for my internet array. The cost of CPU and memory matter there. My audio collection not sorting tracks of the biography as:Jobs 1Jobs 11Jobs 2matters much more for the machine that I'm sitting in front of. It may take more CPU cycles to get that right, in fact. And each of them is more expensive. It's worth it. I don't get not seeing that.

The biography also lead me to think about how Jobs took this personal vision and made it happen in a company. Some leaders build great companies during their tenure and those companies continue being great. Some CEOs do great things through the vehicle of a company, but leave a mediocre company behind them. It is too soon to know, but I suspect Jobs was near the latter pole. Some of his attitudes, such as placing a strong premium on design and experience, have no doubt left a mark. Reports from the biography and otherwise all agree that he was fanatical about getting the company full of 'A' players, which is a requirement in being a great company. There are other good things. Still, the biography stresses that pretty much every decision at every step of the way was a war with everyone around him that he overcame through personal force of will, power struggles, gross abuse and anything else needed to get things to where he wanted them to be. While the results are astounding, it seems like it should leave the company without any means to make similar decisions following Jobs's death. No one else has that power. No one has the overwhelming personal ability to compel people. Relying on a "reality distortion field" of a great man to transcend what is possible in "reality" means that you haven't managed to fully make real the track record of accomplishment. It seems that the reasonable expectation for what comes next is lots of uninspired "reality" without anyone to distort it.

If that's true, we'll not only see an absence of the sort of unparalleled innovation that took Apple from a startup to the most valuable company in the world during Job's tenure (including overcoming the ground lost during his absence), but also we should expect a degradation of the quality of what's already been built. That's tragic and scary. While it is true that Steve Jobs completely created or turned on their ear about six major markets, we needed him to build a great company. I fear that he didn't. One of the first things I said upon hearing that Jobs had died was, "That starts the clock ticking. We have five years for Google to put computers in front of us." I've never wanted to be wrong quite so fervently.

Another thing that I've thought a lot about since reading the biography is the picture it paints of interacting with Jobs. The biography is very compelling and the stories match those I've heard firsthand from insiders over time. To the extent it is true, it is clear to me that Jobs had some truly amazing characteristics and in many other ways was just a terrible person. Unless the biography is a complete work of fiction, it is patently obvious that I couldn't have worked with or for him. He abused the people around him. He was completely polar with everything being either "shit" or "amazingly great." He co-opted people's ideas. He lied. He threw tantrums. He alternated between wooing people and crying or abusing them. I would have loved to help build the things he built. It would have been strong motivation to be there. Despite that, I know from experience that I couldn't have been in his orbit. I've spun out of good situations because of far less.

It is one thing to regard him as a mixed case where good qualities so outweighed the negative that there were great results. The description doesn't really fit that conclusion, though. The book gives me the impression that some of Jobs's qualities that lead to great success were inextricably tied to things that were really messed up. I find that unsettling, and is something I'm thinking about going forward.

The book is incredible, and I'd recommend it for anyone. It has changed how I think about building products and what I think is important. It has made me want to figure out how to get some of his results... without losing my soul. :-) ...more

Jeff Yoak:-) My median review is a couple of sentences or perhaps blank. Yesterday I wrote a thoughtful review of about four paragraphs on a book and clicked s:-) My median review is a couple of sentences or perhaps blank. Yesterday I wrote a thoughtful review of about four paragraphs on a book and clicked submit to be redirected (in a fashion that kills the back button) and be told that goodreads was down for maintenance. It encourages shorter reviews... or at least putting them in a copy buffer before submitting....more
Apr 25, 2012 12:01PM

Cathy DuPontWith that last comment I had to re-read the review and it's quite comprehensive...longer than your usual. The part I liked was the paragraph of your sWith that last comment I had to re-read the review and it's quite comprehensive...longer than your usual. The part I liked was the paragraph of your saying you couldn't be 'in his orbit.' Probably because that's the one paragraph I completely understood.

CPU's, OSX, BSD, etc. are for you fine, bright tech people. So glad you guys understand it and speak the same language!...more
Apr 25, 2012 02:06PM

I liked this book very, very much. We all have heard about Steve Jobs, but he is in fact a person even more magnetic than all the wild tidbits you have heard before. Isaacson never white-washes the man. You get something very close to the truth. This man was inconsiderate, down-right mean and often obnoxious, and yet at the same time he had magnetism, a force that is inspiring. He went after his goals, and he never shied from stating an unpleasant truth. He and his company stood for beautiful prI liked this book very, very much. We all have heard about Steve Jobs, but he is in fact a person even more magnetic than all the wild tidbits you have heard before. Isaacson never white-washes the man. You get something very close to the truth. This man was inconsiderate, down-right mean and often obnoxious, and yet at the same time he had magnetism, a force that is inspiring. He went after his goals, and he never shied from stating an unpleasant truth. He and his company stood for beautiful products; he gave us products that we didn't even know we needed, but once you have them you cannot live without them. They are perfect; they are a delight to hold, they have a magic that other gadgets just do not have. He has tied creativity and imagination and technology all into one perfect, simplified product that is complete from start to finish. Who was this man, into Zen Buddhism, a vegan and a p-e-r-f-e-c-t-i-o-n-i-s-t above all? Working with him must have been pure hell ......and yet how often do you get to work with such an exceptional, demanding, creative person. At the same time he was a talented business entrepreneur.

So why not five stars? You learn about Steve, but I would have liked to learn more about his wife and his children - who they really were. How did they cope with such a spouse, such a father! You will not understand this question until you understand who Steve was. Secondly, quite often technical terms are used and they are not explained or defined. Perhaps many others know these but I didn't. Maybe the paper book has a dictionary at the end? The amazing thing is that even without any definitions being given, by the end of the book you have come to understand them. The book does educate the reader in the field of computer science.

I listened to the audiobook narrated by Dylan Baker, with the epilogue narrated by the author, Walter Isaacson. Baker did a fantastic job of expressing the personality of Steve. He was a rebel and a Hippie and he lost his temper and swore. At the same time he was a fantastic business leader; he created the most valuable company in the world. His most popular word was shit, and if swear words are going to bother you I recommend you look elsewhere. I told you he had a temper. Anyhow, with Baker speaking, I often thought, this is Steve talking!

You just have to read this book to rub shoulders with such a personality. The man was exceptional. I have my doubts that Apple, as it was defined by him, can ever be the same without him....more

I saw Walter Isaacson on the Charlie Rose Show, and bought the book with reservations since I had previously read his biography of Einstein where I found the author's concern with minutiae annoying and his writing style lack-luster at times. This didn't happen so much with Steve Jobs' Biography.

I recall Isaacson stating rather early in the book that he might be accused of writing something apologetic and perhaps maybe even stand accused of being under the spell of one of the most influential peI saw Walter Isaacson on the Charlie Rose Show, and bought the book with reservations since I had previously read his biography of Einstein where I found the author's concern with minutiae annoying and his writing style lack-luster at times. This didn't happen so much with Steve Jobs' Biography.

I recall Isaacson stating rather early in the book that he might be accused of writing something apologetic and perhaps maybe even stand accused of being under the spell of one of the most influential people in contemporary history's 'reality distortion machine.' The biography seemed fair enough, but I think it may have come too early. It is enjoyable and even has some enduring life lessons, but in the end, I think Walter Isaacson soft-peddled more than he needed to.

Consequently, I wonder how much of Jobs' biography is influenced by Walter Isaacson's world view and vice-versa.

Personally, I think Isaacson didn't reveal anything more than what was already floating in the ether about Steve Jobs, the man. Moreover, it seems the juiciest tidbits offered up by the author came in his varied interviews when he was touring the talk shows to hype the book. While my knowledge of Steve Jobs was next to nothing before I read the book, my perspective of him post-Isaacson, is that of a rather emotionally labile, petulant, brilliant man who was given to extremes of self consumption, willfulness that not only attested to his creative genius, but contributed to at least three life-changing disasters - one with the gravest consequences of all for him because it quite likely killed him.

Because only three significant disasters were written of by Issacson, it becomes a matter of reading between the lines. I am left with the feeling that the author purposefully gives his readership bones so that they can sort of build the final character according to their personal likes. To that end, this biography seems a bit skewed. That is why I give this book 3 stars out of a possible 5; it is likeable enough but seems lacking in substance.

I don't know how, or why other people read biographies, but my reasons focus on understanding people and how they influenced their respective worlds. As a result, I tend to look for examples "what-to-do's" and "what-not-to-do's" as I read. While I remain convinced that few if any biographies ever accomplish what they boldly set out to do; convey a complete, unbiased vetting of what makes up a person's life, it seems even harder to summarize a book - even less so, a life - in merely one sentence, but here goes; being bold and determined in your decisions is a double edged razor that has the potential to cut in your favor but it can also cost you your life.

In biographies, sometimes it's not what you say. It's how you say it. Additionally, sometimes it's about what you don't say or perhaps, that you elect not to say it. Finishing up with this book leaves me with those niggling questions. Unfortunately, I don't think I really know much more about Steve Jobs than I did in the past. I do know however, more about the history of Apple, and that was worth paying for.

Perhaps that is what Isaacson should have framed his book as; a history of Apple's rise, fall and rise again - rather than a biography about Steve Jobs. Apple was, after all, what defined Steve Jobs and is, in large part, what will reflect his legacy....more

Are you a fan of APPLE? Do you hate APPLE? Did you admire Steve Jobs? Did you hate Steve Jobs? No matter your answers, you *really* should read this book. There have been things about APPLE I always disliked. This book made me turn many of these things into things I no longer dislike, but also into things I now understand and yes, even admire. There was many many things I learned in here that I had no clue about. There is no way I think you can read this book and not just totally be in awe of JoAre you a fan of APPLE? Do you hate APPLE? Did you admire Steve Jobs? Did you hate Steve Jobs? No matter your answers, you *really* should read this book. There have been things about APPLE I always disliked. This book made me turn many of these things into things I no longer dislike, but also into things I now understand and yes, even admire. There was many many things I learned in here that I had no clue about. There is no way I think you can read this book and not just totally be in awe of Jobs. Yes, he was a total asshole. It's also clear that he never made apologizes for this. He has some very obvious personal issues. Professional issues as well. What I never understood is what drove him. After reading this, I feel very sure that money was never a driving force in his life. Instead it was always his passions. His passions for PIXAR. His passion for APPLE. His passion to always be the best.

Read this book. I am not sure that I've ever read a book that showed a man with such passions. No, this book is not always a nice pretty picture of Jobs. In fact, at times you will think he is complete shit. You will hate him for how he treats his employees. You will marvel at how he justifies his backhanded business ethics. You will stare open mouthed at his tantrums....but through it all, you can't help but to marvel at the man. At all he accomplished. At how he never gave up, no matter who told him it couldn't be done. You will marvel at how he pushes others into greatness. You will wish you could have experienced his "reality distortion field". I also learned so much about APPLE.....I learned and now understand their "closed system" I used to really hate this about APPLE...now I am excited about it....You will understand why they really DID change the world that you and I now know. How many things that Jobs pushed that you don't even realize...but things you would be hard pressed to do without.

I wish I had read this book years ago. I wish I had been an APPLE fanatic years ago. I wish I had bothered to learn more about Jobs before his passing. I wish everyone knew just what he did for APPLE. The story about APPLE that I really never knew when he came back to it's helm.

Again, no matter what your feelings about the man or the company, this is a book worth reading. If you walk away not learning anything new....well, I would surprised. If you walk away without being a little bit awestruck with the man...well, I would be surprised.

Brilliant man.....there is no question....there will never be another like him....

and just one more thing.....

you shall be missed......you left your mark on us all, Steve.....job well done.....RIP........more

AngelaThat completely sums up everything that I felt about Apple and the book, great review.
Jun 06, 2014 12:18AM

Diane JohnsonI have many of the same thoughts, exactly. The difference being that I've always been an Apple fanatic. I always will be. The book captures Steve so wI have many of the same thoughts, exactly. The difference being that I've always been an Apple fanatic. I always will be. The book captures Steve so well, especially, as you said, his passions....more
Jul 25, 2014 10:06AM

Fascinating bio of an American tech icon. I had known he was the notoriously difficult CEO of Apple and Pixar, but I knew little of his actual personal history. I enjoyed uncovering the Fifty Shades of Jobs - who knew he was a barefoot, bearded, unblinking vegan hippie at 17? Anecdotes about his refusal to shower and his inevitable BO being a professional problem were priceless (so contrary to my initial expectations). Yet as an obsessive perfectionist, motivator, visionary, product man...it's mFascinating bio of an American tech icon. I had known he was the notoriously difficult CEO of Apple and Pixar, but I knew little of his actual personal history. I enjoyed uncovering the Fifty Shades of Jobs - who knew he was a barefoot, bearded, unblinking vegan hippie at 17? Anecdotes about his refusal to shower and his inevitable BO being a professional problem were priceless (so contrary to my initial expectations). Yet as an obsessive perfectionist, motivator, visionary, product man...it's made clear that Jobs's influence revolutionized more than one industry. I had never realized how groundbreaking Apple stores were, or iTunes or iPhones or iPads.

Isaacson certainly doesn't shy away from Steve's faults, though. He bluntly narrates events using testimony from a variety of perspectives - often gleefully contradicting direct statements of fact from Jobs. He characterizes Jobs as spoiled, willful, and prone to juvenile temper tantrums, so sometimes I wondered if he even liked him. But Isaacson is no doubt an Apple proselytizer, frequently comparing Apple to Microsoft and finding Microsoft wanting. I'd be interested in reading another book about the rise of computers from the Microsoft perspective.

My biggest gripe was with the book's overall organization. It seems to be structured by topic rather than by time. As a result, the narrative jumped around a lot. I kept having to flip back and check the years to place the events in order in my head, which was not good.

Otherwise, I think Isaacson did a good job compressing decades of interesting information into an admittedly long but digestible look at Jobs's professional life....more

JoshGood review, a knowledge of tech and approx when things were released helps a lot in this book. You don't need to flip around much because you keep thGood review, a knowledge of tech and approx when things were released helps a lot in this book. You don't need to flip around much because you keep the timeline clear in your head depending upon what the author is talking about....more
Sep 18, 2013 07:49PM

Since his death in October, those of us who use Apple products and/or have a strong interest in technology have read various obituaries, tributes in blogs, and reviews of the Isaacson book. Like other books by Isaacson I have read over the years, this book is beautifully written, very well documented, honest in its criticism and praise of Jobs, and really compelling. The end is of course very sad, no matter how you may have felt about Jobs as a human being. He was both a creative genius and a veSince his death in October, those of us who use Apple products and/or have a strong interest in technology have read various obituaries, tributes in blogs, and reviews of the Isaacson book. Like other books by Isaacson I have read over the years, this book is beautifully written, very well documented, honest in its criticism and praise of Jobs, and really compelling. The end is of course very sad, no matter how you may have felt about Jobs as a human being. He was both a creative genius and a very difficult person to be around not only in the work environment, but with his own family and friends, and at the end, even his doctors and nurses.

As a bonus, Isaacson also provides an excellent, well-documented, and honest description of the culture of Silicon Valley and the history of the rise, the fall, and the rise again of Apple. Having worked in Silicon Valley, I was able to have a front row seat to amazingly rapid and fascinating technological advances. I worked with very intelligent, creative, decent, incredibly hard-working people who lived in simple ranch houses and drove nondescript cars. We were never bored. We worked long hours. Eventually we may have even been rewarded financially. But there was another culture in Silicon Valley. There were the personalities, Jobs among them, who landed on the cover of Wired or Fortune. They would be interviewed by Charlie Rose on PBS. Personalities such as Ellison at Oracle, Jim Clark at Silicon Graphics and Netscape, and Scott McNealy at Sun Microsystems, had very strong, notoriously difficult and demanding personalities and super inflated egos. They accumulated vast wealth. They fought with their neighbors over the height of their backyard fences. They built expensive yachts and travelled in custom designed private airplanes. Yes, some of them, such as Hewlett and Packard, or Andrew Grove at Intel, have made significant investments in philanthropic activities. Of course, Bill Gates seems now to be more respected for his global philanthropic activities than for his contributions to Microsoft

Jobs personality in particular was very inconsistent, as though he possessed some sort of split personality. He and his family lived in a basic middle class neighborhood in Palo Alto (north of Apple headquarters in Cupertino). They had no security presence in their lives, unlike many. Yet Jobs regularly drove down 101 (a notoriously dangerous freeway) at 100 mph in his Mercedes AMG (a $100,000 car he replaced annually) with no license plates and, once arriving at work, deliberately parked across two handicapped spaces while declining the “status” of his own personal CEO parking space. When pulled over for speeding or for driving without plates, he would make an excuse to the officer, speed off again, miracuously arriving safely at his destination.

Jobs read the Autobiography of a Yogi once a year and spent time at Buddhist retreats. However, these pursuits did not give him any sense of tranquillity. He could be brutal, extremely hyper-critical with his employees, his suppliers, distributors and ad agencies. He was a genius in directing the creation of remarkable technologies (Apple II, Mac, iPod, iPhone, iPad,)frequently copying the work of researchers as Xerox Parc however. He founded the wildly successful Pixar Animation Studios with its long run producing blockbuster animated films. But, he made terribly wrong decisions about his own health. He dressed simply but had bizarre eating habits, eating nothing but carrot juice for months, going on fasts, and adamantly declining food that would assist in building up his immune system during his lengthy illness. I found his treatment of doctors and nurses to be outrageous, but it was very honestly conveyed to Isaacson by Jobs’ wife, Laurene Powell, certain close friends, and even doctors. Waiting for death to take him, Jobs could not resist complaining about the design of his oxygen mask. What would Freud have thought? What type of behavior is this?

The chapters on the design of the iPod, the MAC, and the Apple stores were fascinating and also indicative of the very demanding and obsessive nature of Jobs personality. I do appreciate the simplicity of Apple's products, the Zen-like design of devices such as the Macbook Pro and the white iPhone. However I feel guilty possessing them knowing they were produced in China in horrible sweatshop factories, such as Foxcomm, where workers have even committed suicide after working very long hours for very low wages and feeling completely hopeless of ever rising above these conditions.

The corporate history of Apple is also told is a very readable and well-documented detail. His dealings with others, including executives at suppliers and distributors, tech journalists, and powerful CEO’s such as Eisner at Disney, are fascinating and provide insights into the egos behind the CEO culture. Also compelling are the background stories behind the first firing of Jobs after his fall-out with former Pepsi CEO John Scully, his failures (such as the LISA computer and the Next computer) his return and attempt to run the highly successful PIXAR Studios at the same time as he was re-energizing Apple, the controversy surrounding back-dated stock options, the secrecy surrounding his health issues, and his final months. Jobs and his team created many highly successful products. But the failures were also given their fair share of treatment.

What I’m left with most is a feeling of sadness for his family, his three daughters, his wife, his son, and his sister, Mona Simpson. As his wife, Laurene Powell, discussed at the end of the book (pages 543 – 544), “he’s not extraordinary in every realm”. His family was neglected, especially his daughters, even as he must have realized he was going to have only a few short months left in this world. Laurene admits to Isaacson that Steve “did not have social graces, such as putting himself in other people’s shoes.” I can’t begin to imagine how emotionally drained Laurene especially must feel as she recovers from the ordeal of caring for her husband during this prolonged illness. After months in denial and avoiding treatment he finally accepted various medical treatments but also insisted upon trying bizarre so-called approaches that may have served to only make his condition worse. I wonder to what degree his angry, frenetic behavior, his anger, his constant need to always be in control of everything may have contributed to the development of the cancer that ultimately killed him.

What was missing from the book was a deeper look at the manufacturing processes behind the iPad, iPhone and other Apple products. I don’t fault Isaacson for this. There simply could not have been time for him to thoroughly research the issues. These can be examined in another book on the subject. China has closed these factories, such as the notorious Foxcomm, to outside visitors. Before complaining about the high price of Apple and other tech products, we should all think of the low wage Chinese factory workers who are suffering serious damage to their health and well-being, even risking their lives, putting together the products we covet. Perhaps the new management at Apple will finally address these and other social welfare issues. Overall, Apple’s products have provided great benefit to so many around the globe. Do such products have to orginate with people possessing such difficult, abusive personalities? ...more

Walter Isaacson is without a doubt everyone's favorite cherubic imp if only for his mastery of plural form of cherub, cherubim. Felt, at times, that I was reading words from a kindly yet still sharp aging European fairy tale writer. Isaacson, with an impish glance askew, picks out characteristics in people the way your grandfather might: either enveloping them in a warm but fair embrace, bringing them within inches of cherubic face while still rapping them gently for relinquished responsibilitieWalter Isaacson is without a doubt everyone's favorite cherubic imp if only for his mastery of plural form of cherub, cherubim. Felt, at times, that I was reading words from a kindly yet still sharp aging European fairy tale writer. Isaacson, with an impish glance askew, picks out characteristics in people the way your grandfather might: either enveloping them in a warm but fair embrace, bringing them within inches of cherubic face while still rapping them gently for relinquished responsibilities/inconsiderate interactions or casting them as unworthy of approaching his treasured cadre of technolog/artists. As bracing as Jobs' life can be when transcribed competently, I couldn't help but think, with an impish glint in my eye, that if Jobs really wanted to make a dent in the universe, he'd pick somebody who didn't require a correction on the physics of Angry Birds in the NYT. Here's a wish list of non cherubim: David Carr, Malcolm Gladwell, Steven Levy, Jon Gruber (unsure if he'd be able to stand up to Jobs and poke and prod the way testy anecdote adoring WI does though), Colson Whitehead, Carles or Joshua Topolsky. Whatever Jobs might've claimed to have wished, he really wanted a mythologizer and no generation can be as endlessly, resolutely, almost ignorantly mythos making as the baby boomers. So it was not without a cherubic smile that Jobs sought out this able sous chef to take what can be said about his life and massage it for the palette of the generation which keeps the Allman brothers relevant and nods approvingly when Jobs claims that John Mayer is one of the greatest guitarists ever.

In short, a single Apple University course may have been as interesting to the aspiring technologist. A scouring of the Gizmodo archives and choice excerpts from this book will do for the gossip hound.

For the books-a-million browser who asks only that things be explained to him or her on a ok-I-see-where-he's-going-with-that level and cannot distinguish an obvious insight from profundity (Gruber posted that Apple itself was Jobs' greatest creation half a year ago), then feel free to learn trivialities and good clichés about the cherubim and imps who changed the world.

I'm still willing to give Saint Steve the benefit of the doubt and believe that as someone with impeccable aesthetic judgement, he wanted to see how someone with less taste than Charlie Rose and a bit more technological intuition than Larry King, would perceive him, never mind that Isaacson is always a level below and a step behind, watching the throne and on occasion, throwing stones and the king but never quite figuring out that you have to be a really deep guy to know the simple, right thing to say.

PavanMr. Vaman(Apologies for addressing my gesture using your first name as in your surname isn't sited on this page),

I'd just wish to say, If you've writtMr. Vaman(Apologies for addressing my gesture using your first name as in your surname isn't sited on this page),

I'd just wish to say, If you've written this review solely you'd surely stand(perhaps, be standing) in a great place somewhere. Impressed with your writing skills. Keep up n Keep going bro....more
Jul 08, 2013 05:24AM

I started this book with two questions: Was Steve Jobs an asshole? And if so... did he need to be to accomplish what he did?

Having just finished it, I don't have a good answer to either question. In fact both seem foolishly simplistic given this rich, sweeping, detailed, and intimate depiction a truly remarkable man's life experience.

What I learned about Steve Jobs is that he was very good at some things, and very bad at others. Among the things he was very good at, his true genius lay in his abI started this book with two questions: Was Steve Jobs an asshole? And if so... did he need to be to accomplish what he did?

Having just finished it, I don't have a good answer to either question. In fact both seem foolishly simplistic given this rich, sweeping, detailed, and intimate depiction a truly remarkable man's life experience.

What I learned about Steve Jobs is that he was very good at some things, and very bad at others. Among the things he was very good at, his true genius lay in his ability to develop products people love at the intersection of engineering and humanities. Later in life he shifted more of his energies toward building a company that institutionalized this genius, though it will be a while before we learn whether he succeeded.

What I learned about life - or about business, anyway - is that both our strengths and our weaknesses shape the things we create. What's remarkable about the life of Steve Jobs is how the psychoses and eccentricities of his personality, when channelled through his defining product genius, created the world's most valuable company. His is not the story of a man overcoming the limitations of his worldview; it's the story of a man who changed the world itself to accomodate it.

You are not Steve Jobs, as Allen Kelly pointed out in his insightful blog post a few weeks back. But maybe there's a lesson for all of us in the story of a man who brought some beauty into the world not just because of the gifts that made him a genius, but because of the flaws and idiosyncrasies that made him a person.

Walter Isaacson, the CEO of the Aspen Institute, has been chairman of CNN and the managing editor of "Time" magazine. He is the author of "Steve Jobs"; "Einstein: His Life and Universe"; "Benjamin Franklin: An American Life"; and "Kissinger: A Biography," and the coauthor of "The Wise Men: Six Friends and the World They Made." He lives in Washington, DC.

“One way to remember who you are is to remember who your heroes are.”
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“If you want to live your life in a creative way, as an artist, you have to not look back too much. You have to be willing to take whatever you’ve done and whoever you were and throw them away. The more the outside world tries to reinforce an image of you, the harder it is to continue to be an artist, which is why a lot of times, artists have to say, “Bye. I have to go. I’m going crazy and I’m getting out of here.” And they go and hibernate somewhere. Maybe later they re-emerge a little differently. (Steve Jobs)”
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